With busy work and family lives, finding time for gardening can be a challenge. But that doesn’t mean you have to miss out on having an attractive outdoor space. There are plenty of low maintenance ideas to create a garden that looks good with minimal effort.
Plant Low-Maintenance Plants
Choose plants that don’t require much care so you can spend less time weeding, watering and pruning. Evergreens like conifers and hedging plants only need pruning once or twice a year. Perennials with long flowering seasons, such as daylilies and sedums, provide colour for months with little attention. Grasses add texture and movement and rarely need cutting back. Group plants with similar needs together to make watering easier. Use drought-tolerant varieties and mulch well to reduce watering in the summer.
Take Advantage of Hard Landscaping
Paths, patios, decking and ornamental gravel create structure in a garden and don’t need much maintenance other than occasional sweeping or pressure washing. Go for good quality materials like concrete, natural stone and composite decking that will last for years. Composite decking made from recycled wood and plastic is a great low-maintenance option as it doesn’t need sanding, staining or sealing like real wood. Make sure any wood decking is raised off the ground on joists to prevent rotting. Similarly, ensure stone slabs have space between them for drainage and prevent weeds from growing in the joints.
Simplify the Lawn
Lawns take time to mow, feed, aerate and re-seed, which might not be a top priority for foster families who’d rather spend their weekends doing fun things. Make life easier by minimising the amount of grass and opting for hard landscaping, flower beds or ground cover plants instead. Consider replacing a high maintenance lawn with lawn alternatives like chamomile, thyme or moss which only need occasional trimming. For any remaining lawn, go for a slow-growing, hardy grass seed mix suitable for your conditions. Leave the grass slightly longer as this reduces required mowing and also shades out weeds.
Choose Low-Maintenance Garden Features
Water features, sculptures, pots and ornaments can elevate a garden’s design. But they also potentially create more jobs to do. Pick durable, weather-proof materials that don’t need renovating or repainting. Opt for self-contained water features rather than ponds which require cleaning. Place outdoor décor on gravel or paving rather than beds and borders to avoid having to weed around them. Go for high quality pots that stay looking pristine with only occasional cleaning, or maintenance-free composite ones.
Keep on Top of Essentials
Stay on top of quick tasks like weeding, hedge trimming and leaf clearing. Do these little and often rather than letting them build up. Weeding is easier if it is tackled as soon as unwanted plants appear. Trimming hedges regularly keeps them neat and stops them from getting out of control. Removing fallen leaves quickly prevents beds from getting smothered and lawn from dying off in patches. Having the right tools for the job makes essential garden maintenance quicker.
With some careful planning and design, you can create an attractive, tidy garden that doesn’t eat up your precious family time. Use hard landscaping, low-maintenance plants and garden features and get set up with irrigation and tools. Then sit back and enjoy your outdoor space knowing it will stay looking good with minimal effort.